Board Game

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a game for two or more players, and a method for playing the game. The game includes a game board having a plurality of spaces defining a continuous course of travel between a start space and a finish space. Each player starts on the starting space and each player takes turns using a chance device, preferably a spinner, to randomly select which one of eight arcade-style games to play to generate a number that is the number of spaces that the player must move the player&#39;s playing piece along the course of travel. The winner is the first player whose playing piece reaches the finish space.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a board game that consists of a game boardhaving a plurality of spaces that include a start space, a finish space,and a plurality of medial spaces, all of which define a continuouscourse of travel. One or more different arcade-style games having anelement of chance are used to generate what number of spaces each playermoves on the game board along the course of travel, and the identity ofthe arcade-style game to play is determined by a chance device, such asa spinner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of board games has been known for decades. Examples of knownboard games includes those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 748,626; U.S. Pat.No. 1,509,312; U.S. Pat. No. 2,026,082; U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,335; U.S.Pat. No. 6,116,601; U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,771; and U.S. Patent ApplicationNo. 2006/0061035 A1.

U.S. Pat. No. 748,626; U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,312; and U.S. Pat. No.2,026,082 all disclose landlord-type board games in which the object isto obtain as much wealth or money as possible. The board consists of anumber of spaces around which the players move their respective pieces.A number of are designated as real estate areas or locations ofdiffering value that can be purchased and/or traded amongst the players.The players may also purchase houses and hotel that can be “built” ontheir real estate areas, thereby increasing the value of the area. Themove around the spaces according to the throw of the die

U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,335 discloses a board game for use by a plurality ofplayers having a chance device. The game board consists of a playingarea defined by a path along which playing pieces are advanced by theplayers. The chance device is preferably in the form of a wishing wellor like structure that can receive play coins deposited therein. Eachplayer is provided with a supply of coins and as a player advancesaround the board the player must follow the instructions printed on thegame board on that space, which may include depositing one or more coinsin the wishing well.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,601 discloses a board game consisting of a boardhaving a continuous path of blank and/or marked spaces from a “Start”space to a “Finish” space. The players use a dice or a spinner todetermine the number of spaces they move along the path, with the winnerbeing the player that reaches the “Finish” space first. During play, theplayers must follow the instructions on the spaces they land on.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,771 discloses an educational board game thatincludes a game board having a plurality of spaces, including a pair ofwin spaces, a start space, and a number of medial spaces divided betweena pair of tracks. Each of the tracks extends from the start space to oneof the win spaces. Movement of a player's token along the tracks isdetermined by a combination of chance elements such as cards, dice, andspinners.

The board game disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0061035 A1includes a timer for determining the length of time for a player's turn.Players move around a path of spaces on the board according to a pair ofdice, collect tokens and try to avoid being landed upon or landing upona mummy token. The length of a player's turn is determined by the timingdevice.

While these patents disclose board games having a course of travel ofinterconnected spaces around which the players must move according tothe roll of a dice or the spin of a spinner, none of these games furtherincorporate one or more arcade-style games that a player must play inorder to determine how many spaces that player can move along the courseof travel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention toprovide a game for two or more players comprising:

-   -   a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a        surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a        finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the        plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between        the start space and the finish space;    -   b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing        piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the        player;    -   c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game        comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the        players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces        that the player must move the player's playing piece along the        course of travel; and    -   d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style        games.

In a preferred embodiment, the game includes eight arcade-style gamesand the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable arounda center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by aplayer is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators thateach correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

In a further aspect, the present invention also provides a method ofplaying a game between two or more players, the method comprising thesteps of:

-   -   a. providing a game board comprising a plurality of spaces        marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including a        start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces,        wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course of        travel between the start space and the finish space,    -   b. providing a unique playing piece for each of the players, the        playing piece indicating the current location on the spaces of        the player;    -   c. starting each playing piece on the starting space;    -   d. taking turns using a chance device to randomly indicate which        one of a plurality of arcade-style games to play;    -   e. playing the indicated arcade-style game to generate a number        indicative of the number of spaces that the player must move the        player's playing piece along the course of travel; and    -   f. moving the player's playing piece along the course of travel        by the number generated by the arcade-style game until a winner        is determined when one of the playing pieces reaches the finish        space.

In a preferred embodiment, eight arcade-style games are provided, andwherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotablearound a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after beingspun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight differentindicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention also provides a kit forplaying a game between two or more players, the kit comprising:

-   -   a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a        surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a        finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the        plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between        the start space and the finish space;    -   b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing        piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the        player;    -   c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game        comprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the        players, results in a number indicative of the number of spaces        that the player must move the player's playing piece along the        course of travel;    -   d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style        games; and    -   e. instructions to play the game, wherein the instruction        comprise the following steps:        -   i. starting each playing piece on the starting space;        -   ii. taking turns using the chance device to randomly            indicate which one of the arcade-style games to play;        -   iii. playing the indicated arcade-style game to generate a            number indicative of the number of spaces that the player            must move the player's playing piece along the course of            travel; and        -   iv. moving the player's playing piece along the course of            travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game            until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces            reaches the finish space.

In a preferred embodiment, the kit includes eight arcade-style games andwherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotablearound a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after beingspun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight differentindicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals referto the same parts in the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a game board that may beused to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of playing pieces that may beused together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the game of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a chance device, in theform of a spinner, that may be used together with the game board of FIG.1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a bottled “Marble Counter”that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 to play the gameof the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of one of the arcade-stylegames that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 toplay the game of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-stylegames that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 toplay the game of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-stylegames that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 toplay the game of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-stylegames that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 toplay the game of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of the arcade-stylegames that that may be used together with the game board of FIG. 1 toplay the game of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of thearcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board ofFIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of thearcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board ofFIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a preferred embodiment of another of thearcade-style games that that may be used together with the game board ofFIG. 1 to play the game of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying figures.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a game for two or moreplayers. The game includes:

-   -   a. a game board;    -   b. a unique playing piece for each of the players;    -   c. a plurality of arcade-style games; and    -   d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style        games.

The Game Board

FIG. 1 illustrates game board 10 that may be used to play the game. Gameboard 10 includes a plurality of continuous spaces 12 marked on a topsurface 14 of the game board 10. The spaces 12 include a start space 16,a finish space 18, and a plurality of medial spaces 20. The continuousspaces 12 define a continuous course of travel between the start space16 and the finish space 18. Preferably, the playing game board 10consists of one relatively large rectangular board, or it may be made offour (8½ inch by 11 inch) pieces of board material that are attachedtogether in such a way that they can be folded up together to be a finalmeasurement of 8½ inches by 11 inches. Where the game board 10 is madeof four such pieces of board material, the game board is capable ofbeing unfolded to lay open on a flat surface and having a measurement of17 inches by 22 inches, at which time the game board 10 is ready forplaying the game. Of course, it will be understood that the particulardimensions of the game board 10 is not important for playing the game asdescribed herein as long as the game board 10 is large enough to permitthe continuous spaces 12 to define a continuous course of travel betweenthe start space 16 and the finish space 18.

With reference to the specific game board 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, thegame board 10 includes on its top surface 14 a set of continuouslyinterconnected spaces 12 that define a continuous path or course oftravel between the start space 16 and the finish space 18. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, there are 112 interconnected spaces 12, includingthe start space 16 and the finish space 18. The spaces 12 are each inthe shape of a square with approximately 1 inch sides. The spaces 12 arearranged on the top surface 14 with an initial outer loop 22 that isadjacent three sides 24, 26 and 28, respectively, of the game board 10.Adjacent the bottom side 30 of the game board 10, the continuous spaces12 loop inward to form two inner loops 32 and 34 that eventually end atthe finish space 18, which is located near the start space 16.

In a preferred embodiment, the finish space 18 has a removable, separatelaminated square on it also marked “finish”. This removable “finishsquare” can be moved and placed on any of the other spaces 12 on thegame board 10 in order to shorten the continuous path or course oftravel that the players must travel before finishing the game. This isdescribed in greater detail below in the section “Playing the Game”.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the game board 10 includes anarea 36 between the loop of spaces adjacent side 26 and the two innerloops 32 and 34 where the title of the game 38 (for example, THE GAME OF“FUN-NESS”), together with descriptive phrases 40 (for example, THEARCADE GAME THAT ANYONE CAN WIN! And FOR 2-12 PLAYERS, AGES 4-104), maybe provided. A picture of the game components 42 may also be provided inthe area 36.

As noted above, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the game board10 includes a total of 112 spaces. There are the start space 16; thefinish space 18; 35 blank spaces 44; 16 spaces with the words “GO AGAIN”on them, some with an arrow pointed in the forward direction 46 and somewith an mow pointed in the backward direction 48 away from the finishspace 18; 5 spaces that have “+1” on them 50; 5 spaces that have “ +2”on them 52; 5 spaces that have “ +3” on them 54; 6 spaces that have a“X2” on them 56; 4 spaces that have a “X3” on them 58; and 15 spacesthat have a picture of the “Marble Counter” 60 on them. There are also atotal of 19 spaces that have the instructions “Trade Places” on them 62.Although not specifically shown in FIG. 1, the 19 “Trade Places” spaces62 can include different variations, such as “Trade Places with anyPlayer”, “Trade Places with the Player on your Right” and/or “TradePlaces with the Player on your Left”.

The Playing Pieces

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the playing pieces 64 that may be usedto play the game. The game is played using a set of unique playingpieces 64 for each of the players playing the game. The playing pieces64 are used to indicate the current location on the spaces 12 of theplayers. In this embodiment, there are a total of 12 playing pieces 64,one for each of the 12 total players that may play the game. Each of theillustrated playing pieces 64 are about 3 cm in height, having anupstanding cylindrical portion 66 with a diameter of about 6 mm Thebottom end of cylindrical portion 66 is attached to a flat round base 68of about 2 cm in diameter. The playing pieces 64 are all of differentcolours, such as, red, blue green, orange, yellow, black, white,turquoise, purple, mauve, brown and pink so that each playing piece 64can be identified as belonging to a particular player. It will beunderstood, however, that the playing pieces 64 can be of any size andshape and be made of any suitable material as long as there aresufficiently different playing pieces to be identified for each playerplaying the game. Also, preferably the size of the playing pieces 64 isnot so large as to make it difficult for the playing pieces to occupy aspace 12.

The Chance Device

The preferred embodiment of the game also includes a chance device thatis used to randomly indicate one of the arcade-style games that must beplayed (described in greater detail below). In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the chance device is in the form of a spinner 70 that includes aflat board 72 having a circle 74 thereon. The circle 74 is divided intoeight generally triangular pie-shaped sections 76, each having adifferent indicator 78. The indicator 78 may be a shape, such as arectangle 80 with different colors (for example, red, blue, green,black, purple, yellow, silver, etc.), or may be different shapes, suchas a circle with jagged edges 82, or a happy face symbol 84. Attached atthe centre 86 of the circle 74 is a pointer 88 which can be spun by handaround the center point 86 and has a blunt end 90 and a pointed end 92.It will be understood that the spinner 70 can be of any size or made ofany suitable material as long as its main components are present: thecircle 74, the pie-shaped sections 76 with their respective differentindicators 78, and the spinning pointer 88. The pointer 88 is spun byhand by the players and eventually stops spinning with the pointed end92 resting on one of the sections 76.

The Bottled “Marble Counter”

FIG. 4 illustrates the bottled “Marble Counter” 94 that may be used withone embodiment of the game. The “Marble Counter” 94 consists of a bottleportion 96 having generally transparent walls 98. The bottle portion 96has an approximately 9 cm diameter circular base 100 and tapers to anapproximately 3 cm diameter circular top 102 and stands approximately 19cm tall. The base 100 has been divided into six 6 equal pie-shapedsections 104. Each section 104 has been marked with a single differentdigit 106 starting with “1” and continuing consecutively with “2”, “3”,“4”, “5” and “6”. Each section 104 has been marked with lines 108 andprotruding up from the base 100 at each division line 108 is a metalobstacle 110 (such as a small screw) to separate each section 104 fromthe other. A ball 112 (referred to as the “Marble”) is contained in theinterior of the bottle portion 96 and the ball 112 is adapted to come torest in one of the sections 104. It will be understood that the bottled“Marble Counter” 94 can be of any size as long as its main componentsare present: six numbered pie-shaped sections 104 and ball 112, arepresent.

During play, the bottled “Marble Counter” 94 is shaken by one of theplayers and placed flat on the playing table allowing the ball 112 tocome to rest in one of the numbered pie-shaped sections 104.

The Arcade-style Games

Illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 12 are a series of arcade-style games that maybe used to play the game. Generally, the game can be played with aplurality of arcade-style games, but preferably between 2 and 8, andmost preferably there are 8 such arcade-style games. More than 8arcade-style games may be provided, and the players decide beforehandwhich 8 of the arcade-style games provided will be used for a particulargame. The number of arcade-style games generally matches the number ofpie-shaped sections 76 in the spinner 70 shown in FIG. 3. For example,spinner 70 has 8 pie-shaped sections 76 and thus 8 arcade-style gameswill be used, but if there were 6 pie-shaped sections, then 6arcade-style games are used. Each arcade-style game is preferablydifferent from the other arcade-style games and comprising an element ofchance that, when played by one of the players, results in a numberindicative of the number of spaces that the player must move theplayer's playing piece 64 along the continuous spaces 12 that define thecourse of travel on the game board 10.

The arcade-style games are referred to as “Arcadables” and each game hasa removable coloured tag on it matching the different indicators 78 ofthe spinner 70. It will be understood that the number and type ofarcade-style games useful with the present invention can vary, and thatother types of arcade-style games can be provided so that they areinterchangeable with the original arcade-style games so that only atotal of eight arcade-style games are used to play a game.

FIG. 5 illustrates the first of the arcade-style games that may be usedto play the game. This first arcade-style game may be referred to as“Arcadable #1”, and is depicted with reference number 120. Arcade-stylegame 120 includes a solid base 122 that is approximately 10 cm square.Attached to the base 122 and extending upwardly is a supporting pole 124that is approximately 23 cm tall. About two-thirds of the way up thesupporting pole 124 is rotatably attached a circular disc 126 that isapproximately 9½ cm in diameter. The disc 126 is rotatably attachedaround pivot point 128 in such a way that the disc 126 can be spun byhand. The disc 126 is divided into eight equal sections 130, eachsection 130 being divided from the adjacent sections by dividing lines132. At the periphery 134 of the disc 126 and aligned with each of thelines 132 is a protruding member 136, for example, a finishing nail.Above the disc 126 is a white plastic pointer 138 that protrudes fromthe supporting pole 124 and is disposed such that it touches theprotruding members 136 when the disc 126 is spun. Each section 130 ismarked with a different number 140 ranging from “1” to “8”. There is aremovable marker 142 on the front of the base 122 near the front edge144 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #1 game is played by the player spinning the disc 126, forexample by placing an index finger on one of the protruding members 136and pulling downward. The disc 126 will spin and then, by friction, willslow down and eventually stop with the white plastic pointer 138 lyingbetween two of the protruding members 136 denoting the number that ismarked in that particular section 130.

“ARCADABLE” #2

FIG. 6 illustrates the second of the arcade-style games that may be usedto play the game. This second arcade-style game may be referred to as“Arcadable #2”, and is depicted with reference number 150. Thisarcade-style game has a base 152 that has four holes 154 disposed in thebase 152. The holes 154 are sized to allow a suitable ball 156, such asa 2½ cm diameter Styrofoam ball, to come to rest in the holes 154. Thereis a solid back wall 156 and a solid top wall 158 with a notch 160 cutinto the front edge 161 of the top wall 158 that is just wide enough forthe ball 156 to be held in place but that will allow the ball 156 topass through the notch 160 with a slight amount of downward pressure.The side walls 162 and 164, and the front wall 166 are made oftransparent Plexiglas. There are two protruding members 168 and 170,such as finishing nails, placed strategically to stop the ball 156 fromcoming to rest in an unmarked dead space of the base 152. There is aremovable marker 172 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of thespinner 70.

The Arcadable #2 game is played by a player placing the ball 156 intothe notch 160 in a rest position. Then using the index finger, a smallforce is applied downward until the ball 156 falls downward into one ofthe holes 154 in the base 152. The holes 154 are each marked with adifferent number 174 ranging from “2” to “5”.

“ARCADABLE” #3

FIG. 7 illustrates the third of the arcade-style games that may be usedto play the game. This third arcade-style game may be referred to as“Arcadable #3”, and is depicted with reference number 180. Thisarcade-style game sits on a solid base 181 approximately 11 cm×16 cm,and has two side walls 182 and 184, a front wall 186, a back wall 188,and a top wall 190, all made of transparent Plexiglas, generallydefining a box 192. The top wall 190 can lift open to allow a player toretrieve the ball 194 located in the box 192. The base 182 sits on awedge (not shown) that elevates the back 196 of the base 182 toapproximately a 70 degree angle relative to vertical.

Inside the box 192 there are two transparent Plexiglas dividing walls198 and 200 positioned in a T-like configuration so as to divide thebase 182 into three main sections. The first section 202 locatedadjacent the front or bottom end 204 of the box 192 houses aspring-loaded metal paddle 206 with a cylindrical handle 208 protrudingout of an opening 210 in the front wall 186. This paddle 206 isspring-loaded with a suitable biasing member 212, such as an elasticband, to help launch the ball 194. The second section is a narrow lane214 defined by side wall 182 and dividing wall 198, up which the ball194 is launched. The ball 194 travels up the lane 214 and hits a smallangled wall 216 at the top left of the lane 214 that deflects the ball194 into the third section 218 which is where the action of the gameoccurs. This third section 218 is the largest of the three sections andcontains three half circles 220 defined by upstanding members 222, suchas finishing nails, and three equal resting places 224 at the bottom end226 of this third section 218. The three half circles 220 and the threeresting places 224 are adapted to allow the ball 194 to come to resttherein. There are numbers 228 ranging from “1” to “6” marked on the topwall 190 corresponding to the three half circles 220 and the threeresting places 224 mentioned above. There is a removable marker 230 thatcorresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #3 game is played by opening the top wall 190 to retrievethe ball 194, placing the ball 194 in the lane 214 so that it comes torest on the tip of the paddle 206. The top wall 190 is then closed andthe player then pulls the handle 208 and letting go, thereby causing theball 194 to be launched by the paddle 206 up the lane 214. The launchedball 194 is deflected by angled wall 216 and deflected into the thirdsection 218 where the ball 194 eventually comes to rest randomly in oneof the three half circles 220 or the three resting places 224, resultingin one of the numbers 228 between “1” and “6” being chosen.

“ARCADABLE” #4

FIG. 8 illustrates the fourth of the arcade-style games that may be usedto play the game. This fourth arcade-style game may be referred to as“Arcadable #4”, and is depicted with reference number 250. Thisarcade-style game is approximately 11 cm square and 3 cm high and sitson a wedge-shaped base 252 at approximately a 70 degree angle slopingdownward relative to vertical. The base 252 is solid and has a number ofupstanding thin obstacles 254 (such as finishing nails) protruding fromthe base 252 in a pattern as depicted in FIG. 8. The game 250 alsoincludes side walls 256 and 258, a front wall 260, a back wall 262 and atop wall 264, all made of transparent Plexiglas. Top wall 264 opensallowing access to the inside of the game 250. The back wall 262contains three openings 266 allowing the placement of a ball 268 intothe upper end 270 of the game 250. The lower end 272 contains sixseparate equal sections 274 defined in such a way as to allow the ball268 to come to rest inside one of the sections 274. Each section 274 isnumbered with a different number 276 ranging from “1” to “6”, thenumbers 276 being marked on the top wall 264 in the appropriate place tolabel each section 274. The top wall 264 also has on it a removablemarker 278 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner70.

The Arcadable #4 game is played with a player dropping the ball 268 intoany one of the three openings 266 and allowing the ball 268 to roll bygravity through the pattern defined by the upstanding thin obstacles254. The ball 268 will eventually land randomly in one of the markedsections 274 resulting in a number 276 being chosen. The ball 268 canthen be retrieved by the next player by opening the top wall 264.

“ARCADABLE” #5

FIG. 9 illustrates the fifth of the arcade-style games that may be usedto play the game. This fifth arcade-style game may be referred to as“Arcadable #5”, and is depicted with reference number 280. Thisarcade-style game has a solid base 282 to which is attached and extendsupwardly two side walls 284 and 286, a front wall 288 and a back wall290, all made of transparent Plexiglas. The base 282, side walls 284 and286, front wall 288 and back wall 290 define a box 292 that isapproximately 7 cm wide, 10 cm deep and 28 cm tall. The box 292 is openat the top end 294. Disposed inside the box 292 are three deflectors296, 298 and 300 that are attached to the side walls 284 and 286 and areangled as shown in FIG. 9. The deflectors 296, 298 and 300 are spacedapart and angled sufficiently to allow a ball 302 to be deflected and tofall to the bottom end 304 of the box 292.

The top surface 306 of the base 282 is divided into six equal sections308 defined by upstanding posts 310, such as finishing nails, eachsection 308 is large enough to house the ball 302 when it comes to reston the base 282. On the side walls 284 and 286, the front wall 288and/or the back wall 290 are numbers 310 ranging from “1” to “6”corresponding to each section 308. A hinged door 312 with a knob 314 islocated at the lower end of the box 292 on side wall 284. The door 312is secured with a Velcro tab (not shown) so that the door 312 can beopened to retrieve the ball 302 and then closed. There is a removablemarker 316 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner70.

The Arcadable #5 game is played by opening the door 312, removing theball 302 and closing the door 312 using the Velcro tab. The ball 302 isheld over the top of the box 294 and released, dropping it into the box294 and allowing it to strike one or more of the three deflectors 296,298 and 300 and then randomly landing into one of the six sections 308,resulting in one of the six numbers 310 being chosen.

“ARCADABLE” #6

FIG. 10 illustrates the sixth of the arcade-style games that may be usedto play the game. This sixth arcade-style game may be referred to as“Arcadable #6”, and is depicted with reference number 320. Thisarcade-style game has a 12 cm by 23 cm solid base 322. At one end 324 ofthe base 322 is scaffolding structure 326 made of four cylindricalvertical poles 328 approximately 13 cm high extending upwardly from thebase 322. Two horizontal poles 330 (about 10 cm long) are disposed atthe top ends 332 of two of the vertical poles 328. At the top 334 of thescaffolding structure 326 is a long swinging arm 336 (about 15 cm long)that can swivel around a pivot point 338. Attached to one of thehorizontal poles 330 is one end of a chain 340; the second end of thechain 340 is attached to a pear-shaped weight 342 that hangs on a smallmetal lever 344 at the front end 346 of the swinging arm 336. The lever344 can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Adjacent of the scaffolding structure 326 and disposed on the base 322are six cylindrical pegs 348 that fit into depressions 350 in the base322. The pegs 348 are preferably placed in a triangular pattern with onepeg in the front row, two pegs in the second row and three pegs in thethird row. These pegs 348 are attached to six separate strings 352, onestring for each peg 348. From the underside of the pegs 348, thesestrings 352 pass through a small hole in each depression 350 and arecombined into one twine that extends under the base 322 and the end 353of the twine exits through a hole 354 in the front 356 of the base 322as a handle to aid in up-righting the pegs 348 into their respectivedepressions 350 after they have been knocked down. There is a removablemarker 358 that corresponds to one of the indicators 78 of the spinner70.

The Arcadable #6 game is played by standing all the pegs 348 up-right intheir respective depressions 350 by pulling on the end 353 of thestring. The pear shaped weight 342 is placed on the metal lever 344 soas to hold the chain 340 in place on the lever 344. The swinging arm 336is then swivelled to the player's desired direction and the lever 344 istwisted in either a clockwise or count-clockwise direction causing thepear-shaped weight 342 to fall and to strike the pegs 348 and randomlyknocking some or all of them down. The number of pegs 348 knocked downis then counted and used in the game. If one of the pegs 348 is moved sothat it is no longer in its initial up-right position then this iscounted as a knock down.

“ARCADABLE” #7

FIG. 11 illustrates the seventh of the arcade-style games that may beused to play the game. This seventh arcade-style game may be referred toas “Arcadable #7”, and is depicted with reference number 370. Thisarcade-style game sits on a solid base 372 which is approximately 18 cmby 10 cm. The back wall 374 is about 10 cm wide and 13 cm high, and thefront wall 376 is approximately 6½ cm high. Front wall 376 is divided soas to define a space 378 in the middle of the front wall 376. Space 378houses a spring- loaded lever 380 with a circular resting place 382 onwhich a ball 384 can sit. At the top end 386 of the lever 380 are twocylindrical horizontal handles 388 to be used by a player to launch theball 384. The spring action is accomplished by attaching an elastic orother biasing means (not shown) to the base 372 and to the bottom of thelever 380 so that when the lever 380 is pulled back it is biased toreturn to its original resting position. The side walls 390 and 392, andthe top wall 394 are made of transparent Plexiglas, and together withthe base 372, the back wall 374 and the front wall 376 define a box 396.The top wall 394 can be opened to retrieve the ball 384.

On the base 372 inside the box 396 are eight circular pods 398 arrangedaround a larger circular bowl-shaped pod 400. The circular pods 398 andthe bowl-shaped pod 400 are all of sufficient size to allow the ball 384to come to rest therein. There are numbers 402 on the top wall 394 thatcorrespond to each pod 398 and 400 and that provide a value ranging from“2” to “6”. There is a removable marker 404 that corresponds to one ofthe indicators 78 of the spinner 70. Interspersed among the pods 398 and400 are thin vertical metal obstacles 406 (such as finishing nails), thepurpose of which is to deflect the ball 384 into one of the pods 398 and400 so that the ball 384 does not come to rest in an unmarked deadspace.

The Arcadable #7 game is played by lifting the top wall 394 to retrievethe ball 384, then closing the top wall 394 and placing the ball 384 onthe circular resting place 382 of the lever 380. The player pulls on thelever 380 downwardly and releases it to launch the ball 384 into the box396. The ball 384 will eventually land in one of the awaiting pods 398and 400, resulting in a number ranging from “2” and “6” being chosen.

“ARCADABLE” #8

FIG. 12 illustrates the eighth of the arcade-style games that may beused to play the game. This eighth arcade-style game may be referred toas “Arcadable #8”, and is depicted with reference number 420. Thisarcade-style game sits on a solid base 422 that is approximately 11 cmby 27 cm in size. There are two side walls 424 and 426, a front wall 428and a top wall 430, all of which are made of transparent Plexiglas. Thebase 422 sits on a wedge (defined by front legs 432 that are longer thanback legs 434), so that the base 422 is angled at approximately a 70degree angle relative to vertical. Back wall 436 is a solid mass 438extending from the back end 440 to an intermediate point 442. There arefive circular marble-sized holes (not shown) in the front face 444 ofthe solid mass 438, thus the holes are open only at the face 444 facingthe front wall 428.

The top wall 430 extends from the back end 440 to a point 446 prior tothe front wall 428, thereby defining a space 448. Space 448 allows for amoveable marble ramp 450 to be positioned and operated. The front wall428 is adapted to allow a handle 452 on the ramp 450 to protrude beyondfront wall 428. A ball 454 is held in place in the ramp 450 by a screw(not shown) or other device located to the top of the ramp 450 until theball 454 is flicked into play. Disposed on the base 422 are thinvertical metal obstructions 456 (such as finishing nails) disposed in apattern as shown in FIG. 12. Optionally, there may be elastic bands 457placed between two obstructions 456. These obstructions 456 will cause aball 454 released from the ramp 450 to be deflected in a random manneruntil the ball 454 comes to rest in one of the holes in the solid mass438. There are the numbers 458, such as “1”, “4”, “6”, “3” and “2”marked on top wall 430 corresponding to the five marble-shaped holes insolid mass 438. There is a removable marker 460 that corresponds to oneof the indicators 78 of the spinner 70.

The Arcadable #8 game is played by placing the ball 454 on the moveableramp 450 above the level of the holding screw, positioning the ramp 450in any of its random positions and then with a slight flick of the indexfinger, the ball 454 is launched down the ramp 450 into the game wherethe ball 454 eventually comes to rest randomly in one of the markedholes, resulting in one of the five numbers being chosen.

Playing the Game

A second aspect of the present invention is a method of playing a gamebetween two or more players. In this second aspect, the method includesthe steps of:

-   -   a. providing a game board, such as game board 10 illustrated in        FIG. 1;    -   b. providing a unique playing piece for each of the players,        such as the playing pieces 64 illustrated in FIG. 2;    -   c. starting each playing piece 64 on the starting space 16;    -   d. each player taking turns using a chance device, such as the        spinner 70 shown in FIG. 3, to randomly indicate which one of a        plurality of arcade-style games to play;    -   e. playing the indicated arcade-style game, examples of which        are shown in

FIGS. 5 to 12, to generate a number indicative of the number of spaces12 that the player must move the player's playing piece 64 along thecourse of travel on the game board 10; and

-   -   f. moving the player's playing piece 64 along the course of        travel until a winner is determined when one of the playing        pieces 64 reaches the finish space 18.

A preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention will nowbe described with reference to the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 to12.

The game begins by setting the game board 10. Each player then picks aunique playing piece 64 from the available twelve different colouredpieces 64 and that will be the player's playing piece for that game.Each player's playing piece 64 is used to indicate the current locationof the player on the spaces 12 of the game board 10. The chosen playingpieces 64 are then all placed on the start space 16.

The players then decide where the “finish square” will be to determinethe winner of the game. Typically, the finish space 18 will be the lastspace on the course of travel so that the first player whose playingpiece 64 lands on the finish space 18 is declared the winner. However,as described above, in a preferred embodiment, the finish space 18 has aremovable, separate laminated square on it also marked “finish”. Thisremovable “finish square” can be moved and placed on any of the otherspaces 12 on the game board 10 in order to shorten the continuous pathor course of travel that the players must travel before finishing thegame.

As described above, each of the arcade-style games shown in FIGS. 5 to12 have a removable marker that corresponds to one of the indicators 78of the spinner 70. Prior to beginning the game, the players also decidewhich of the removable markers will be attached to which of thearcade-style games. In an embodiment of the game where there are eightgenerally triangular pie-shaped sections 76 on the spinner 70, theneight arcade-style games are used. However, if there are more than eightarcade-style games to choose from, then the players also decide whicheight arcade-style games will be used for the game at hand, and theremovable markers are applied to those eight chosen arcade-style games.

Deciding on which of the players will start the game, and deciding onthe order in which the players will proceed throughout the game can bedone in various ways. Preferably, the players determine who will startthe game using the bottled “Marble Counter” 94. Each of the playerstakes a turn to shake the bottled “Marble Counter” 94 and place it flaton the playing table allowing the ball 112 to come to rest in one of thenumbered pie-shaped sections 104. The player with the highest score willstart the game, and the order play then continues to the right of theplayer.

The first player then uses the spinner 70 shown in FIG. 3 to randomlyindicate which one of the arcade-style games the player has to play. Theplayer spins the pointer 88 by hand around the center point 86, ensuringthat it makes at least one full revolution. When the pointer 88 stopsspinning, the player must play the arcade-style game indicated by theparticular indicator 78 present in the pie-shaped section 76 on whichthe pointed end 92 comes to rest. The player then plays that particulararcade-style game the number scored on that game is the number of spacesthat the player's playing piece 64 is moved along the course of traveltowards the finish square 18 on the game board 10.

Once the player's playing piece comes to rest on a space 12, the playermust follow the instructions on that space. If the space 12 is blank,there is nothing more for the player to do and play continues to thenext player on the right. If the player's playing piece 64 lands on a“Go Again” space 46 or 48, the player must play again the arcade-stylegame that had been used to get to that space 46 or 48. The number scoredon the arcade-style game is the number of spaces that the player'splaying piece 64 is moved along the course of travel, but this time inthe direction of the particular arrow present on the “Go Again” space 46or 48. Once the playing piece 64 is so moved, the player must againfollow the instructions of the space 12 on which the playing piece 64lands. The player's turn ends when all the instructions have beencarried out or if the player lands on a blank space, at which point playcontinues to the next player to the right.

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 50, 52 or 54 that has a “+1” or“+2” or “+3” marked on it, the playing piece 64 must be move forward(towards the finish space 18) for the indicated number of spaces, andthe player then follows the instructions on that space 12.

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 56 or 58 that has a “X2” or “X3”marked on the space, the player multiplies the number that he had usedto get to that space by either 2 or 3 as the case may be, and theplayer's playing piece 64 is moved forward (towards the finish space 18)by that number of spaces. If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 56 or58 that has a “X2” or “X3” marked on the space after being moved from abackward “Go Again” space 48, the player still multiplies that number by2 or 3, but the playing piece 64 is moved forward (towards the finishspace 18) rather than backward (away from the finish space 18).

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space 60 that has a picture of the“Marble Counter” on it, the player must shake the “Marble Counter” 94until the ball 112 comes to rest and must then move the player's playingpiece 64 by the number of spaces corresponding to the number indicatedin the “Marble Counter” 94.

If a playing piece 64 lands on one of the “Trade Places” spaces 62, theplayer must trade places as indicated on the space 62. Although notspecifically shown in FIG. 1, the “Trade Places” spaces 62 can includedifferent variations, such as “Trade Places with any Player”, “TradePlaces with the Player on your Right” and/or “Trade Places with thePlayer on your Left”. If the space 62 is marked with “Trade Places withany Player”, the player trades spaces with any player on the board evenif the player is in the lead. If a player lands on a “Trade Places withthe Player on your Right”, the player must trade places with the playeron the right, and similarly, if a player lands on a “Trade Places withthe Player on your Left”, the player must trade places with the playeron the left.

If a playing piece 64 lands on a space that is occupied by anotherplayer's playing piece, then the player must first follow theinstruction of that space, if there are any instructions. If the playerremains on that space after following those instructions, the playermust then have a battle with the player whose playing piece was alreadyoccupying the same space using the “Marble Counter” 94 and the playerwith the highest score moves that number of spaces forward and followsthe instructions on that space. If the occupied space is one of the“Trade Places” spaces 62, then the player must trade places asinstructed on the space 62 and the new player arriving at that space 62then engages in a battle using the “Marble Counter” 94.

Each time a player ends his turn, the next player to the right beginshis turn using the spinner 70 as described above, and when that player'sturn ends, the player to the right then has his turn.

The game ends when the first playing piece 64 reaches to “finish square”(either the finish space 18 or the space that was designated by theplayers as the “finish square”. The player whose playing piece 64reaches the “finish square” first is the winner of the game. A playingpiece 64 can reach the “finish square” on any turn that provides theplayer with enough moves to reach the “finish square”.

A further aspect of the present invention is a kit for playing the game.The kit includes:

-   -   a. a game board comprising a plurality of spaces marked on a        surface of the game board, the spaces including a start space, a        finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, wherein the        plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between        the start space and the finish space;    -   b. a unique playing piece for each of the players, the playing        piece indicating the current location on the spaces of the        player;    -   c. a plurality of arcade-style games, each arcade-style game        being different from the other arcade-style games and comprising        an element of chance that, when played by one of the players,        results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the        player must move the player's playing piece along the course of        travel;    -   d. a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style        games; and    -   e. instructions to play the game, wherein the instruction        comprise the following steps:        -   i. starting each playing piece on the starting space;        -   ii. taking turns using the chance device to randomly            indicate which one of the arcade-style games to play;        -   iii. playing the indicated arcade-style game to generate a            number indicative of the number of spaces that the player            must move the player's playing piece along the course of            travel; and        -   iv. moving the player's playing piece along the course of            travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game            until a winner is determined when one of the playing pieces            reaches the finish space.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments of the presentinvention have been described and illustrated, the present invention isnot to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts hereindescribed and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various changes or modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention and the present invention is not to beconsidered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in thespecification.

1. A game for two or more players comprising: a. a game board comprisinga plurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spacesincluding a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medialspaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course oftravel between the start space and the finish space; b. a unique playingpiece for each of the players, the playing piece indicating the currentlocation on the spaces of the player; c. a plurality of arcade-stylegames, each arcade-style game comprising an element of chance that, whenplayed by one of the players, results in a number indicative of thenumber of spaces that the player must move the player's playing piecealong the course of travel; and d. a chance device randomly indicatingone of the arcade-style games.
 2. The game of claim 1, comprising eightarcade-style games and wherein the chance device is a spinner comprisinga pointer pivotable around a center point and, when the pointer comes torest after being spun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eightdifferent indicators that each correspond to one of the eightarcade-style games.
 3. The game of claim 2, wherein each of thearcade-style games comprises a removable marker that corresponds to oneof the indicators of the spinner.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein eacharcade-style game is different from the other arcade-style games.
 5. Amethod of playing a game between two or more players, the methodcomprising the steps of: a. providing a game board comprising aplurality of spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spacesincluding a start space, a finish space, and a plurality of medialspaces, wherein the plurality of spaces define a continuous course oftravel between the start space and the finish space, b. providing aunique playing piece for each of the players, the playing pieceindicating the current location on the spaces of the player; c. startingeach playing piece on the starting space; d. each player taking turnsusing a chance device to randomly select which one of a plurality ofarcade-style games to play; e. playing the selected arcade-style game togenerate a number indicative of the number of spaces that the playermust move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and f.moving the player's playing piece along the course of travel by thenumber generated by the arcade-style game until a winner is determinedwhen one of the playing pieces reaches the finish space.
 6. The methodof claim 5, wherein eight arcade-style games are provided, and whereinthe chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotable around acenter point and, when the pointer comes to rest after being spun by aplayer is adapted to indicate one of eight different indicators thateach correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein each of the arcade-style games comprises a removablemarker that corresponds to one of the indicators of the spinner.
 8. Themethod of claim 5, wherein each arcade-style game is different from theother arcade-style games.
 9. A kit for playing a game between two ormore players, the kit comprising: a. a game board comprising a pluralityof spaces marked on a surface of the game board, the spaces including astart space, a finish space, and a plurality of medial spaces, whereinthe plurality of spaces define a continuous course of travel between thestart space and the finish space; b. a unique playing piece for each ofthe players, the playing piece indicating the current location on thespaces of the player; c. a plurality of arcade-style games, eacharcade-style game being different from the other arcade-style games andcomprising an element of chance that, when played by one of the players,results in a number indicative of the number of spaces that the playermust move the player's playing piece along the course of travel; and d.a chance device randomly indicating one of the arcade-style games; ande. instructions to play the game, wherein the instruction comprise thefollowing steps: i. starting each playing piece on the starting space;ii. each player taking turns using the chance device to randomly selectwhich one of the arcade-style games to play; iii. playing the selectedarcade-style game to generate a number indicative of the number ofspaces that the player must move the player's playing piece along thecourse of travel; and iv. moving the player's playing piece along thecourse of travel by the number generated by the arcade-style game untila winner is determined when one of the playing pieces reaches the finishspace.
 10. The kit of claim 9, comprising eight arcade-style games andwherein the chance device is a spinner comprising a pointer pivotablearound a center point and, when the pointer comes to rest after beingspun by a player is adapted to indicate one of eight differentindicators that each correspond to one of the eight arcade-style games.11. The kit of claim 10, wherein each of the arcade-style gamescomprises a removable marker that corresponds to one of the indicatorsof the spinner.
 12. The kit of claim 9, wherein each arcade-style gameis different from the other arcade-style games.